A MUMMIFIED head held in Warrington for 170 years will today be sent on a journey half-way round the world to its cultural home in New Zealand.
The head – known as a Toi Moko – will be handed over to representatives of New Zealand’s national Maori museum, Te Papa Tongarewa, at a ceremony at Warrington Town Hall.
It is one of a small number in this country and one of about 150
How the tattooed head came to be in Britain is a mystery. It was presented to Warrington Natural History Society in 1843 by Sir Richard Brooke, of Norton and transferred to the museum when it opened five years later.
But how it came to be in Sir Richard’s possession is not known.
However, it is known that the Maris used to preserve severed heads for two reasons – either to venerate a 
loved one or to ridicule an enemy defeated in battle.
Those taking part in the ceremony will include leader of the borough council, Cllr Terry O’Neill, Cllr Kate Hannon, the council’s lead member for culture, Maureen Banner, chairman of Culture Warrington, who manage the museum and Te Herekiekie Herewini, repatriation manager at Te Papa Tongarewa museum.
As a curtain-raiser for the ceremony, Maori representatives gave a presentation at Warrington Museum yesterday, featuring Maori music and culture.
Maureen Banner told the audience that although the museum was hoping to open a “Cabinet of Curiosities” gallery early next year, there would be no place in it for the Toi Moko.
“We appreciate that it is no longer appropriate to have this on show to the public. We’ve been prepared to repatriate it for a while, but the town’s role as a host venue for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, with teams from New Zealand and Samoa playing at our stadium, seemed like an ideal opportunity to make the event happen.”
Cllr Hannon said: “The museum has cared for it for 170 years but it is right that it should be repatriated to its home land.”
The Toi Moko is sacred in Maori culture and has not been on display at Warrington for more than 20 years.
It cannot be filmed or photographed as this would cause deep offence to Maori culture.
New Zealand play Samoa in the World Cup at the Halliwell Jones stadium on Sunday.
Pictured: Warrington Museum manager Janice Hayes with members of the Maori repatriation party and (right) a Maori mask similar to the sacred head.
